The Guide by Vana

Where to drink in Soho

7 places to drink in Soho, each one on the Guide on merit.

1. 

   Beasy

   Cocktail bar

   A speakeasy-style cocktail bar hidden in a former Soho barbershop, low-lit and late.

   Head down to the basement late, when the living-room space turns into a soundsystem.

2. 

   El Siete

   Agave bar

   A pink agave den under El Pastor on Brewer Street. Seven margaritas, seven agave cocktails, and no daylight.

3. 

   Milroy's of Soho

   Whisky bar

   A 1964 whisky shop with a hidden basement bar, The Vault, behind a swinging bookcase: 55 seats, no stag parties, bartender-made bitters and syrups, an epic spirits list.

   It now trades as 3 Greek Street, so search that name as well as Milroy's for hours or bookings.

4. 

   Quo Vadis (the bar)

   Restaurant bar · European

   Everyone books the dining room. The move is the bar at lunch.

   The ground-floor bar takes non-members, so drop in for the smoked eel sandwich without a membership.

5. 

   Sacred Grounds

   Coffee shop

   A church-run coffee shop behind St Anne's in Soho, occupying the site of the area's first fire station. It has the only garden of any Soho coffee shop and hosts open mic nights, poetry slams and sign language club. The menu runs to filter coffee, vegan pastries and mushroom rolls.

6. 

   SOMA

   Indian-inspired cocktail bar

   Dark, minimal and only 23 seats, with cocktails that taste of pickle and chaat done properly.

   Only 23 seats behind an unmarked door, so book ahead rather than chancing the buzzer.

7. 

   Under the Counter

   Vinyl listening bar

   A proper listening room for the patient ear, where the music leads and the cocktails keep up.

   Go late and let the vinyl set the pace; the room only holds about 40, so book ahead at the weekend.